The penultimate of the NFL matchups as the Tampa Bay Buccaneers travel to frosty Green Bay where the Packers play host to the NFC Championship Game. Get a jump on this week’s NFL betting lines and sharpen your sports betting for the first of this Sunday’s NFC Championship matchups.
| Game: Tampa Bay Buccaneers (13-5) at Green Bay Packers (14-3)
Location: Lambeau Field Time: 3:05 p.m. ET Television: FOX |
NFC Championship Betting Lines
| Team | Point Spread | Moneyline | Over/Under | Team Total |
| Buccaneers | +3½ | +150 | 51 | 23½ |
| Packers | -3½ | -170 | 51 | 27 |
Head-to-Head
Much can be made of the Week 6 matchup between these two. At the time, the 4-0 Green Bay Packers laid three points to the 3-1 Buccaneers. The sportsbook set the total several points higher at 55.
It can be a deceptive yardstick to have a comparison like this, where the Buccaneers mounted a walloping comeback from a ten-point deficit to win 38-10.
Aaron Rodgers certainly felt like his subpar performance, throwing two interceptions, was a wakeup call for the team. It’s difficult to imagine a repeat performance of the same game script dominated by Tampa Bay’s defensive performance.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | Home ATS | Away ATS | Fave ATS | Dog ATS | O/U |
| Buccaneers | 13-5 | 10-8 | 5-3 | 5-5 | 7-7 | 3-1 | 10-8 |
Last Game
Tampa Bay looked like anything but the underdog in last Sunday’s divisional-round win, dispatching the New Orleans Saints and possibly sending Drew Brees into retirement. Betting markets backed the Bucs, taking them from field-goal dogs down to 2½ points.
The Saints were fortunate to have only lost by 10 points, losing the turnover differential by four, with three interceptions and a fumble. With twice as many turnovers as scores, the Saints failed to fill their end of the points-scoring bargain.
The total, which opened at 51½, climbed to 53 at close. That over only stood a faint prayer as the Saints’ offense stalled, and the Bucs won with a final of 30-20.
Injury Report
Wide receiver Anthony Brown left Sunday’s game with a knee injury bad enough to merit an MRI. He’s been declared day-to-day, and remains to be seen in injury news updates if he’ll even practice this week.
The Bucs designated NT Vita Vea to return from injured reserve. Vea fractured his leg in Week 5, and while the team did a commendable job in replacing him, his return up front would be welcome. Expect he’ll be activated Saturday before the game.
Tampa Bay lost special teams’ linebacker Jack Cichy to a broken arm Sunday. He’s been moved to the injured reserve, and the Bucs signed practice squad Deone Bucannon to the active roster as his replacement.
Watch for ILB Kevin Minter to be activated from the NFL COVID-IR this week.
Green Bay Packers
Betting Record
| Team | Record | ATS | Home ATS | Away ATS | Fave ATS | Dog ATS | O/U |
| Packers | 14-3 | 11-6 | 6-3 | 5-3 | 9-5 | 2-1 | 10-7 |
Last Game
Laying a touchdown against the Los Angeles Rams, early bettors last week took the points with the Rams and brought the line down to 6½. By game day, steam on the Packers proved to be the right move that pushed Green Bay back to being touchdown chalk.
Aaron Rodgers got to pick on a defense with an injured Aaron Donald and emerged with a three touchdown performance. Between Green Bay’s ease in which they moved their offense, and the surprising effort of the Rams’ quarterback Jared Goff in a losing battle, the expected low-scoring game didn’t emerge. The total — which slumped from an open of 46, down to 45 — blew to the over on the same Alan Lazard dagger touchdown that sealed the game for the Packers, 32-18.
Injury Report
Green Bay pulled RB A.J. Dillon halfway through the fourth quarter of Saturday’s game due to a quad strain. The team is optimistic he’ll be alright even in the short term. It remains to be seen what his upcoming practice week holds but it seems like he might be sitting out a good portion of the week.
Also, NT Tyler Lancaster left the game early in the first quarter, but returned to action later. His name should appear on this week’s NFL injury report.
NFC Championship Betting on the Game
Point Spread
Oddsmakers opened the Packers as four-point favorites, and bettors took the points with the Bucs. The line is currently 3½ and indicators suggest it might continue to drop. Those who want points with the Buccaneers should consider taking them now, while Green Bay backers would benefit from waiting to see if the line drops to three.
Moneyline
Just as money came to take the points with the Bucs, so too did the moneyline move from the open of +170 down to the current +150. Green Bay’s overlay price is now -170.
Over/Under
The total opened 51 and has taken two-way action, first to the under down to 50½ and then back up to where it opened. The early forecast for game time predicts a 30-degree day with a 40% chance of snow flurries.
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